I listen to the radio broadcasts and have heard callers suggest this many times so I thought I'd put it to a RedsZone vote. Of the two who would you rather have as the pitching coach?

westofyou

08-20-2009, 11:37 AM

Jeff Brantley shouldn't even announce baseball games, I shudder at the thought of him being a coach.

If I used callers on talk radio as litmus test on what to do I'd do the exact opposite.

Chip R

08-20-2009, 11:38 AM

This is akin to being asked what method of death you'd prefer.

If I had to vote, I'd say Brantley. For one thing I wouldn't have to hear him on the radio anymore and then he'd realize that being a pitching coach isn't as easy as it looks from the press box.

lollipopcurve

08-20-2009, 11:38 AM

I voted Pole, and I can't wait for him to be replaced. That's how highly I think of Brantley.

Ted Power would be fine with me, or somebody with a track record from outside the organization.

HokieRed

08-20-2009, 11:39 AM

We need a "Neither" option.

redsmetz

08-20-2009, 11:47 AM

We need a "Neither" option.

That would be my vote.

hebroncougar

08-20-2009, 11:54 AM

Neither. I'll take Mazzone or Duncan.

traderumor

08-20-2009, 12:01 PM

Brantley visits the mound: "You have to quit throwing them right down broadway. I mean come on, how hard is it not to throw it right down the middle. Geesh." Brantley leaves the mound.

Tom Servo

08-20-2009, 12:10 PM

We could also bring back Gully.

redsmetz

08-20-2009, 12:13 PM

I wouldn't object to Mazzone, although given his time at Baltimore (and I don't know all the details), you wonder how much his work was due to Bobby Cox being the manager. For that matter, maybe Duncan could be the result of his partnership with LaRussa.

I can't recall what the issues were with Gullett, but it always seemed to me he got results from pitchers. Or was he just a miracle worker with retreads?

RedsBaron

08-20-2009, 12:14 PM

Jeff Brantley shouldn't even announce baseball games, I shudder at the thought of him being a coach.

If I used callers on talk radio as litmus test on what to do I'd do the exact opposite.

Amen.

Spring~Fields

08-20-2009, 12:21 PM

Neither.

Sea Ray

08-20-2009, 12:24 PM

I wouldn't object to Mazzone, although given his time at Baltimore (and I don't know all the details), you wonder how much his work was due to Bobby Cox being the manager. For that matter, maybe Duncan could be the result of his partnership with LaRussa.

I can't recall what the issues were with Gullett, but it always seemed to me he got results from pitchers. Or was he just a miracle worker with retreads?

LaRussa has it made with Duncan and Hal McKrae. I think they are two best assistant coaches in the game and it shows. What I wouldn't give to have either one of them...

Highlifeman21

08-20-2009, 12:34 PM

Maybe we should have Justin Lehr be our pitching coach, since he's been the only one to be able to get thru to Homer Bailey.

penantboundreds

08-20-2009, 12:35 PM

Brantley, at least then you would know the pitchers come to the ballpark prepared and with a plan and an idea of how to pitch the hitters.

GOYA

08-20-2009, 12:37 PM

Ted Power would be fine with me

Ditto. He seems to get results and he notices mechanical flaws quickly.

fearofpopvol1

08-20-2009, 12:42 PM

i actually do think power would be a good choice.

but i think brantley would be fine too. he may not be an eloquent speaker, but he's a smart baseball guy. i am confident he would be an upgrade over pole.

Bumstead

08-20-2009, 01:30 PM

I voted for Brantley but only because he was the only option not named Dick Pole...we need a pitching coach not just another one of Baker's Boyz....

Bum

CarolinaRedleg

08-20-2009, 01:35 PM

Of those two, Brantley. At this point, I think an actual pole would be a better choice than Dick Pole.

nate

08-20-2009, 01:41 PM

Here's a question. How much better would the pitching be if we had the best pitching coach available? How many more games would we win?

I say, no more than 3. 5 tops.

A similar question. How much better would the pitching be if we had better pitchers?

cumberlandreds

08-20-2009, 01:46 PM

Neither for me. I really doubt Brantley would be any better than Pole and probably not as good. He's comfortable in the booth espousing expertise to the few that care.
Ted Power would be my choice.

savafan

08-20-2009, 01:49 PM

A similar question. How much better would the pitching be if we had better pitchers?

Tons, but then there'd be no money left over for this front office to afford professional hitters to bat 1-8. We'll have Castellini's mechanic playing shortstop and batting second with Dusty's daughter leading off in centerfield.

vaticanplum

08-20-2009, 01:55 PM

but i think brantley would be fine too. he may not be an eloquent speaker

Jeff Brantley once slapped me on the butt. True story.

Caveat Emperor

08-20-2009, 01:56 PM

Jeff Brantley once slapped me on the butt. True story.

Come on -- you can't just lob THAT kinda grenade into the room and not give an explanation. ;)

savafan

08-20-2009, 01:56 PM

Jeff Brantley once slapped me on the butt. True story.

Now you have to tell the rest of the story.

Caveat Emperor

08-20-2009, 01:57 PM

somebody with a track record from outside the organization.

Isn't that what Dick Pole was before he came here?

Tom Servo

08-20-2009, 02:00 PM

Jeff Brantley once slapped me on the butt. True story.
But was he eloquent about it?

George Anderson

08-20-2009, 02:08 PM

Jeff Brantley once slapped me on the butt. True story.

Well it's better than getting slapped on the butt by Dick Pole.

Hap

08-20-2009, 03:03 PM

We could also bring back Gully.

http://www.beckett.com/images/pgitems/569930101.jpg?

membengal

08-20-2009, 03:10 PM

Pole needs to be put on the next barge floating south on the Ohio River. Immediately.

I could actually live with Brantley as pitching coach, as I think he has a darn good handle on what it takes to succeed and how to approach hitters. Whether he would be a good instructor of same, dunno, but, hey, I bet he would be better than Pole.

Jpup

08-20-2009, 03:31 PM

I wouldn't hire either one of them as dog catcher.

membengal

08-20-2009, 03:40 PM

I wouldn't hire either one of them as dog catcher.

Really? Pole seems pretty stiff, and Brantley a bit more spry. I would think Pole would be just an awful dog-catcher.

CarolinaRedleg

08-20-2009, 04:35 PM

I wouldn't hire either one of them as dog catcher.

Pole, with that stiff half amble-half waddle of his, would be entertaining as dog catcher at least. His dog catching efforts would need to have the musical accompanyment of the Benny Hill theme playing in the background to do it right.

RedEye

08-20-2009, 06:34 PM

Is there a third party candidate? Yeesh.

jojo

08-20-2009, 06:42 PM

Chris Welsh used to pitch....why doesn't he get a pony in the race?

George Anderson

08-20-2009, 06:47 PM

Since we are throwing names out there, throw some bucks at Mario Soto.

KronoRed

08-20-2009, 07:47 PM

Chris Welsh used to pitch....why doesn't he get a pony in the race?

I'd pick him before Brantley

savafan

08-20-2009, 07:58 PM

Is it any way telling that we haven't heard one single Reds pitcher say that Pole has worked with them on anything during his tenure as pitching coach? We would hear that with Gullett, even heard it back in the Stan Williams days, and we hear it about Soto now, but nary a word about Pole.

Nasty_Boy

08-20-2009, 07:59 PM

This is akin to being asked what method of death you'd prefer.

If I had to vote, I'd say Brantley. For one thing I wouldn't have to hear him on the radio anymore and then he'd realize that being a pitching coach isn't as easy as it looks from the press box.

:beerme::thumbup:

My thoughts exactly!

Nasty_Boy

08-20-2009, 08:00 PM

Chris Welsh used to pitch....why doesn't he get a pony in the race?

Too much up-keep at the Ponderosa

guttle11

08-20-2009, 09:28 PM

Brantley, because he's not Dick Pole.

In the end I want someone who will stress pitching inside and stop forcing pitchers to throw certain pitches (two seam fastball with Pole).Let them throw what they have, get them to throw it better.

membengal

08-22-2009, 05:49 PM

Brantley, because he's not Dick Pole.

In the end I want someone who will stress pitching inside and stop forcing pitchers to throw certain pitches (two seam fastball with Pole).Let them throw what they have, get them to throw it better.

Yes indeed.

Raisor

08-22-2009, 05:59 PM

Leo is a cohost of a local radio show down here. Let's just say as a radio guy Leo makes a good pitching coach.

Ron Madden

08-23-2009, 01:43 AM

If the only choice is between Pole or Brantley I'd do without.

cincinnati chili

08-23-2009, 03:49 PM

This is akin to being asked what method of death you'd prefer.

If I had to vote, I'd say Brantley. For one thing I wouldn't have to hear him on the radio anymore and then he'd realize that being a pitching coach isn't as easy as it looks from the press box.

I prefer the form of death proffered at the end of Kentucky Fried Movie, but I agree with your point.

cincinnati chili

08-23-2009, 03:50 PM

Since we are throwing names out there, throw some bucks at Mario Soto.

If Mario expected the current crop of players to work as hard as he did, there'd be a mutiny and a bunch of injured arms. But I loved the guy as a player. If he has any aptitude as an instructor, this would be intriguing if nothing else.